I wanted to throw these out there early so we’d have something to watch throughout the spring training games. Without further delay, here are some fearless predictions for the season. Feel free to voice your agreement / disagreement accordingly, as well as post your own.

Carlos Zambrano will fail to reach the 15 win mark after missing 5+ starts due to injury.

Kosuke Fukudome will have the polar opposite season from last year, having a good spring, poor start to the season, and then finishing strong.

Carlos Marmol will win the closer role out of spring training, but we will see Kevin Gregg finish close to 10 saves.

Jeff Samardzija will begin the season in Iowa’s rotation

Micah Hoffpauir will fail to make the team out of spring, not because of a poor showing, but because of lack of versatility.

Mike Fontenot will receive 400+ at bats at second base and will make at least 5 appearances at SS.

Paul Bako will not finish the season as the backup catcher

Jake Peavy will not throw a pitch for the Cubs

Rich Harden will make 26 starts

The Cubs will win the NL Central division by 11 games over the St. Louis Cardinals.

Alfonso Soriano will play more games in the leadoff spot than he will outside of that spot.

Derrek Lee will finish the season with 21 homeruns.

Milton Bradley will finish the season virtually injury and incident free

Joe Aiello is the founder of View From the Bleachers and one of the lead writers. Growing up in Chicago, he fondly remembers attending games in the bleachers before that was the popular thing to do. Currently Joe resides in North Carolina with his wife and three kids and helps people protect their assets as an independent insurance agent.
Connect with Joe via Twitter / Facebook / E-mail

First pick – yes. I see Z missing some starts too. Second pick – no. I think Fukudome has a fatal flaw in his swing – he pulls off the ball and is susceptible to outside pitching, particularly breaking balls. Third pick – yes again. Cubs will close with whomever is hottest. Fourth pick – yes again. The bullpen will be jammed and Sammardjiza has options. But woe betide any starter/reliever who doesn’t produce!

Fifth pick – no. Hoffpauir will make the team and play some right field as well as first base. Sixth pick – yes. Fontenot will impress again at second. Look forward to some screaming line drives. Seventh pick – true. Bako can’t hit, he is a low salary player and will likely make room for either Koye Hill or Wellington Castillo. Eighth pick – yes. Forget Peavy, at least this year. Ninth pick – No. I predict that Harden will make less than eighteen starts. Tenth pick – no. I think Milwaukee will finish second and the Cubs will win but not by eleven games.

Eleventh pick – no. Soriano will bat down in the order, likely fifth. Twelfth pick – yes. I think Lee will focus more on power this year. Thirteenth pick – no. I believe that Bradley will miss at least thirty games.

Agree seven times, disagree six times.

Bob

Z I think will have 16 wins, but will be injured a bit maybe 3 games worth

Kosuke will have an average year about .270 / .365 obp

3/4 I agree with

I think Hoffpauir makes the team

I agree with Fontenot and I see him either in the 1 or 2 spot in the order. He has a high obp; and he seems to be a decent baserunner. I wouldn’t mind seeing a Fontenot, Theriot, Soriano, Aram, Bradley, Lee, Soto, Dome line up spreads the lefties out a bit speed at the top and nice power through the middle. I like keeping Soto lower in the batting order because it takes some pressure off of him.

I worry about a sophomore slump for Geo Soto

If the Padres tank right away and the economy stays bad in San Diego I could see Peavy as a Cub but not until the trading deadline and I hope only if we aren’t giving up the farm for him. If Z and Harden stay relatively free I’m okay with the staff.

I think Harden pitches about 24 games

I think Cubs finish about 11 ahead as well

I see DLee with a power surge coming back, down lower in the order with the pressure off of him a bit. Maybe 27 home runs

Milton Bradley 140 games

I think they will win at least one playoff game!!!

Billy H

I will predict Big Z gets his 20 win season because the tam comes out of spring as one of the hottest teams in the league. Tey WILL comfortable win the central division by 8 games. Bako will be replaced by a FA signing at some point. Bradley will have 25 HR in Right. The Hoff will spell 1B and play a tad in the OF (will make the team) and produce 12 dingers. Harden will struggle t 15 wins. jake Peavey will not be a CUB. Jeff Samardzija will start as the fifth starter but will end up filling in the regualr rotation. He will surprise so many! Aramis gets 40 HR’s. Lee 27. Soto will start slow but finish big. He proves once againt to be an ACE in the play offs.
Alfonse will have a fairly healthy season and will voice his desire to hit lead off. Sweet Lou will buy in to it once again and allow him to lead off.